Hemmings Hat Trick Seals Senior Cup Win

8 February 2017

United win Senior Cup quarter final at Kidlington

Oxford United moved through to the semi-final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup as an experienced side beat Kidlington 5-1 at Yarnton Road. A hat trick from Kane Hemmings, a neat finish from Conor McAleny and a typical calm strike from James Roberts did the trick as the holders proved just too strong for a hard-working Kidlington side. As well as a decent win, United will take heart from another full 90 minutes from Christian Ribeiro and Sam Long as they continued their comebacks after injury.

United started with Jack Stevens in goal, Ribeiro and Joe Skarz at full back and Long and Charlie Raglan as centre halves. McAleny and Joe Rothwell provided the width in midfield initially, outside Josh Ashby and Josh Ruffels, while Hemmings and James Roberts formed a lively front two.

United opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Raglan spotted a run behind the defence from Hemmings and picked him out with a long ball that just cleared the last man. Hemmings took it in his stride then clipped a fine finish over the advancing Sam Warrell to make it 1-0.

Kidlington then had a good spell and drew level on 31 when Long tripped Lewis Coyle inside the box and Coyle sent Stevens the wrong way from the penalty spot.

However, United responded well and McAleny saw a low shot saved by Warrell, sub Malachi Napa had another effort blocked and then McAleny showed his class with a curling effort from the edge of the box on 44 minutes that made it 2-1 at the break.

In a feisty second half United saw Hemmings fire in a 30 yarder that flashed just wide but Kidlington remained stubborn opponents, certainly the most spirited local rivals the U’s have faced for a while, until Hemmings netted his second with a tap-in after the excellent Ruffels had sent McAleny free and he clipped it over the prone Warrell for Hemmings to roll home.

The striker’s third goal was from similar range as he once again got in behind the tiring home defence and took advantage of a rebound after Warrell, once a United keeper, parried his first effort but was helpless as Hemmings helped himself to a third goal. Roberts then fired home a clinical finish from just inside the box to make it 5-1 and round off an excellent evening's work.

Credit to Kidlington, hard working and spirited throughout but always up against it as a strong U's side turned in a very professional performance.